Drafting SEC talent improves NFL teams’ Super Bowl odds

With the 2016 NFL Draft now behind us, Las Vegas sports book Bovada has released updated odds for each NFL team to win the 2017 Super Bowl. For a number of teams, selecting one or more SEC prospects near the top of their draft boards shortened their odds.

For example, the New England Patriots saw their odds to win the Lombardi Trophy drop from 15/2 to 7/1 after taking in a draft haul that included two SEC players with their first five picks in Alabama CB Cyrus Jones (second round) and Georgia WR Malcolm Mitchell (Round 4). That number is three if you include former Florida QB Jacoby Brissett (Round 3), who finished his career with North Carolina State.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks selected Texas A&M offensive tackle Germain Ifedi (Round 1) and Alabama DT Jarran Reed (Round 2) with their first two selections, and also selected Arkansas RB Alex Collins in the fifth round. Their odds improved from 10/1 to 8/1.

The Arizona Cardinals made a leap forward after spending their first three picks on SEC talents in Ole Miss DT Robert Nkemdiche (Round 1), Texas A&M CB Brandon Williams (Round 3) and Missouri C Evan Boehm (Round 4). Their odds went improved from 16/1 to 14/1.

Bovada also posted some prop bets involving Alabama RB Derrick Henry, who was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round. Bovada set its over/under on Henry’s 2016 rushing yards total at 600, and his touchdown total at five. For a guy who rushed for more than 2,000 yards and scored 28 touchdowns en route to winning the 2015 Heisman Trophy, that seems like a great bet to take. However, the Titans already have a solid veteran in DeMarco Murray, whom they acquired in March. So, bettor beware.

Henry is the SEC prospect with the best odds to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year — at 7/1 — according to Bovada. Cal QB Jared Goff, selected by the Los Angeles Rams at No. 1 overall, leads the pack at 2/1. Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell, who was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round (23rd overall), has his odds set at 12/1.